Kendall Roy leads in the closing stages© Photo Healy Racing
Kendall Roy came home strongly for Chris Hayes to win the five-furlong nursery at Naas.
This colt made headway to lead inside the final furlong and galloped home well to prevail at 4/1 having been available at more than double those odds in the morning.
This was his nursery debut and he had a first-time tongue-strap fitted. Milliethemollie (17/2) finished well for second, half a length in arrears of the winner. Oak Allye was backed from 14s to 9s and came in third, beaten two lengths by the winner.
Trainer Katie McGivern said: “The ground ended up coming up soft enough for him. If it had been on the good side of yielding I probably wouldn't have run him.
“The tongue-tie seemed to help. He just didn't get home the last few times, but he never sounds like he does anything with his wind. I said I'd throw it on and it seemed to work a treat.
“Chris was lovely and positive on him and we're delighted.
“There is a race in Down Royal for him and one in Navan. Chris said I could even step up to six so maybe I have even more options.”
On whether he could go on to Dundalk she added: “The lads before have always said he wanted a softer surface but the odd soft ground horse handles it, I don't know.
“If he does enough this year I'll put him away and get him early again next year. He's a hard horse to get fit, so while he's fit he'll keep running.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
